The Style Girlfriend Guide to: Fall Must-Haves

Recently, I found myself in desperate need of new clothes, but no time to go shopping. Thanks to a ridiculously busy project that took up most hours of the day – and depressingly – night, the only clothes I wanted to try on after leaving the office were my pajamas. I knew the fall items I wanted for my wardrobe, I just didn’t have the energy to find it all myself.

So I did what any time-strapped gal on the go would do. I hired a personal shopper. Well, “hired” may be too strong a word, since the job went to my best friend Megan (we call her Tall Megan, just to keep the two of us straight. Clever, right?). A lovely girl with a penchant for online shopping and a better sense of work-life balance than me, Tall Megan gleefully offered to take my shopping list off my hands. Gratis. Since then, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the unexpected packages that arrive in the mail without warning. Every week brings something new and checks another fall must-have off my list. A pair of clogs here. Skinny cargos there. Some harem pants I’m sure I’ll wear once… And it all comes right to my doorstep.

While I can’t shop for you like Tall Megan’s done for me, I can help make the task a little easier by telling you what I think should be on it. Below is a handy guide of what you need for fall:

PLAID BUTTON-DOWN
Plaid is back. Deal with it. No longer the exclusive domain of hipsters, lumberjacks and hipster lumberjacks, the plaid shirt has re-emerged as a mainstream fall favorite for guys and girls alike. This no-longer-ironic pattern can be worn dressed up under a blazer or casually with your favorite pair of rumpled khakis or torn jeans. Wear it with pride in any color and design you like.

DARK PANTS
A dark-colored pair of pants is a welcome and surprising alternative to a pair of jeans for fall. Try a heavy khaki in navy or nearly hunter green. Go neat in a button-down and suede loafers, or casual in a t-shirt and Chucks.

MILITARY WATCH
Whether you’re looking for a ‘get it and forget it’ fashion-priced watch or a lifetime investment, a military or “tank” is the timepiece of the season.

WORKMAN BOOTS
Lace-up boots are tricky for guys because there’s always the danger of looking like you just wandered out of an Usher video. But workman-style boots with laces (never side zippers! Ugh, tacky) are the way to go fashionable for fall. If you’re feeling bold, try letting your pants bunch at the tops and leave the laces undone, tongues out.

GRAY AS A NEUTRAL
The color black takes up about half the space in my closet, so I recognize the hypocrisy in this statement…but black is boring. This season, buy basics in gray in a “have forever” fabric like cashmere or wool for a functional and fashionable foundation.

And if you still get stuck, call Tall Megan. I’m sure she’d be glad to help you out.